XN000022-1992-08-04 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1992

SUCCESSFUL REPATRIATION WELCOMED

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BRESNIHAN, TODAY WELCOMED VIETNAMESE NON-REFUGEES

THE REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR, MR BRIAN THE SUCCESSFUL AND SMOOTH REPATRIATION OF 60 UNDER THE ORDERLY RETURN PROGRAMME (ORP).

"THIS IS AN

ENCOURAGING SIGN THAT EVEN NON-VOLUNTEERS ARE BEGINNING TO ACCEPT THAT THEIR FUTURE LIES IN VIETNAM, WHERE THEY CAN START A NORMAL LIFE INSTEAD OF LANGUISHING IN DETENTION CENTRES IN HONG KONG.

I

MR BRESNIHAN CONFIRMED

THAT 16 OF THE NUNG ETHNIC GROUP REFERRED TO IN THE RECENT ASIA WATCH SUBMISSION TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WERE ON BOARD THE ORP FLIGHT,

THE ALLEGATION BY ASIA WATCH THAT 133 MEMBERS он THIS ETHNIC GROUP WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PERSECUTION IF RETURNED ΤΟ VIETNAM WAS TOTALLY UNFOUNDED, HE SAID.

"TWENTY-FOUR OF THEM RETURNED VOLUNTARILY LAST YEAR AND - LIKE ALL THOSE WHO HAVE RETURNED SO FAR THERE IS NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO ANY PERSECUTION AT THE HANDS OF THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES, HE SAID.

"

MR BRESNIHAN POINTED OUT THAT RRFUGEE STATUS PROCEDURES ARE APPLICABLE TO INDIVIDUALS ONLY.

DETERMINATION

WHILE CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO GROUP ALLEGIANCE ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL NO ONE IS CONSIDERED TO BE A SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF MEMBERSHIP OF SUCH A GROUP.

HE SAID.

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"THIS APPROACH IS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH UNHCR

HE ADDED THAT ALL THE SCREENED-OUT NON-REFUGEES AND

BE IT REFUGEE

PRINCIPLES,"

RETURNEES ON TODAY'S THEIR CASES HAD BEEN

FLIGHT WERE REVIEWED BY

UNHCR.

FIFTEEN OF THEM, INCLUDING NINE OF THE 10 DEPORTEES, CHOSE TO RETURN AS VOLUNTEERS BEFORE THEY BOARD THE FLIGHT.

HE FIRMLY REJECTED THE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY ASIA WATCH THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S SCREENING PROCEDURES WERE FLAWED AND BIASED.

"THERE IS NO SUBSTANCE IN THIS ALLEGATION. OUR PROCEDURES WERE DRAWN UP WITH THE FULL INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNHOR. THEY HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF JUDICIAL REVIEW AND HAVE BEEN FOUND TO RE FAIR AND PRACTICAL, HE SAID.

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HE SAID APART FROM THE 16 NUNG RETURNEES ON TODAY'S FLIGHT AND THE 24 VOLUNTEERS WHO RETURNED LAST YEAR, ALL BUT A FEW OF THE NUNG GROUP HAD NOW BEEN THROUGH THE SCREENING PROCESS. THE MAJORITY HAD BEEN SCREENED OUT, AND 30 OF THEM HAD APPLIED FOR VOLUNTARY RETURN.

/HE SAID